Decca Records Complete Artist Roster
- James Cecil Dickens (December 19, 1920 – January 2, 2015), better known by his stage name, Little Jimmy Dickens, was an American country music singer and songwriter famous for his humorous novelty songs, his small size (4'11" [150 cm]), and his rhinestone-studded outfits (which he is given credit for introducing into country music live performances). He started as a member of the Grand Ole Opry in 1948 and was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1983. Before his death he was the oldest living member of the Grand Ole Opry.
- Albums: Country Boy, Out Behind the Barn (disc 1), Comes Callin', Handle With Care, Take Me as I Am / Black Eyed Joes
- Alvin Pleasant Delaney Carter (December 15, 1891 – November 7, 1960) professionally recording as A.P. Carter, was an American musician and founding member of The Carter Family, one of the most notable acts in the history of country music.
- The Academy of St Martin in the Fields (ASMF) is an English chamber orchestra, based in London. John Churchill, then Master of Music at the London church of St Martin-in-the-Fields, and Neville Marriner (later Sir Neville) founded the orchestra as "The Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields", a small, conductorless string group. The ASMF gave its first concert on 13 November 1959, in the church after which it was named. In 1988, the orchestra dropped the hyphens from its full name.
- Albums: Horn Concertos Nos. 1-4 / Rondo for Horn & Orchestra (Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields, feat. conductor: Sir Neville Marriner, horn: Alan Civil), The Brandenburg Concertos, Horn Concertos Nos. 1-4 (Academy of St. Martin in the Fields feat. conductor: Sir Neville Marriner
- Adam and the Ants were an English new wave band active during the late 1970s and early 1980s. The group, which lasted from 1977 to 1982, existed in two incarnations, both fronted by Adam Ant. The first, founded in May 1977, achieved considerable cult popularity during the transition from the punk rock era to the post-punk and new wave era and were noted for their high camp and overtly sexualised stage performances and songs. The final lineup of this first incarnation – Dave Barbarossa, Matthew Ashman and Leigh Gorman – left the band in January 1980 at the suggestion of then-de facto manager Malcolm McLaren, to form the instrumentalist personnel of the controversial Bow Wow Wow. The second incarnation of Adam and the Ants featured guitarist Marco Pirroni and drummer-producer Chris Hughes and was noted for its use of Burundi drums. It lasted from February 1980 to March 1982 and achieved major commercial success in the UK and abroad.
- Albums: Kings of the Wild Frontier, Dirk Wears White Sox, Prince Charming, Marquee Club, London - 12.01.1978
- Akiko Suwanai (諏訪内 晶子, Suwanai Akiko, born February 7, 1972) is a Japanese classical violinist. At the age of 18, she became the youngest winner of the International Tchaikovsky Competition in 1990. In addition, she was awarded second prize in the Paganini Competition and Queen Elisabeth Competition in 1989 and is a laureate of the Music Competition of Japan. She has studied with Toshiya Eto at the Toho Gakuen School of Music, with Dorothy DeLay and Cho-Liang Lin at the Juilliard School of Music while at Columbia University, and with Uwe-Martin Haiberg at the Universität der Künste Berlin.She currently plays the 1714 Dolphin Stradivarius, which is on loan from the Nippon Music Foundation.
- Albums: Works for Violin and Piano, Dvořák: Violin Concerto, etc. (feat. Budapest Festival Orchestra, conductor: Iván Fischer), International Tchaikovsky Competition 1990 Winners' Gala (Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra feat. conductor: Dimitri Kitaenko)
- Albert George "Al" Hibbler (August 16, 1915 – April 24, 2001) was an American baritone vocalist, who sang with Duke Ellington's orchestra before having several pop hits as a solo artist. Some of Hibbler's singing is classified as rhythm and blues, but he is best seen as a bridge between R&B and traditional pop music. According to one authority, "Hibbler cannot be regarded as a jazz singer but as an exceptionally good interpreter of twentieth-century popular songs who happened to work with some of the best jazz musicians of the time."
- Albums: A Meeting of Times, Unchained Melody: The Best of Al Hibbler, Starring Al Hibbler, Count Every Star / It All Depends on You, After The Lights Go Down Low / I Was Telling Her About You
- Celebrated song-and-dance man who was a major Broadway attraction before gaining worldwide fame as the star of the so-called "first" talking picture, "The Jazz Singer" (1927). Known as both "The World's Greatest Entertainer" and the biggest egomaniac in show business, Jolson got his start as a blackface singer in vaudeville around 1906. By the 1910s, he was starring in both book and variety shows on Broadway, including "The Honeymoon Express" (1913), "Robinson Crusoe Jr." (1916), "Sinbad" (1918) and "Bombo" (1921). His hammy, exuberant singing style and his obvious love of entertaining made him a huge star of both stage and recordings.
- Albums: Mammy, The Very Best of Al Jolson, Cocktail Hour, Al Jolson: Duets, Let Me Sing and I'm Happy: Al Jolson at Warner Bros. 1926 - 1936
Alan Dale (born Aldo Sigismondi, July 9, 1925 – April 20, 2002) was an American singer of traditional popular and rock and roll music.- Alan Klein (born Alan Charles Klein, 29 June 1940) is an English singer-songwriter and musician. He wrote the soundtrack for the stage play and film, What a Crazy World (1963). In 1964, he released his only solo album, Well At Least It's British, that was re-released in 2008 by RPM Records.Klein was born in Clerkenwell, London. Many of his recordings were made with the record producer, Joe Meek.In 1966 he went on tour as lead vocalist of The New Vaudeville Band.
- Alan Price (born 19 April 1942) is an English musician, best known as the original keyboardist for the British band the Animals and for his subsequent solo work.Price was born in Fatfield, Washington, County Durham, and was educated at Jarrow Grammar School, County Durham. He is a self-taught musician and was a founding member of the Tyneside group "The Alan Price Rhythm and Blues Combo", which was later renamed the Animals. His organ-playing on songs by the Animals, such as "The House of the Rising Sun", "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" and "Bring It On Home to Me" was a key element in the group's success.After leaving the Animals, Price went on to have success on his own with his own band the Alan Price Set and later with Georgie Fame. He introduced the songs of Randy Newman to a wider audience. Later, he appeared on his own television show as well as achieving success with film scores, including winning critical acclaim for his musical contribution to the film O Lucky Man! (1973) as well as writing the score to the stage musical Andy Capp. Price has also acted in films and television productions.
- Albums: Andy Capp (1982 original London cast), O Lucky Man!, Between Today and Yesterday, The Best of & The Rest Of, Price Is Right
- Alexis Andrew Nicholas Koerner (19 April 1928 – 1 January 1984), known professionally as Alexis Korner, was a British blues musician and radio broadcaster, who has sometimes been referred to as "a founding father of British blues". A major influence on the sound of the British music scene in the 1960s, Korner was instrumental in the formation of several notable British bands including The Rolling Stones and Free.
- Albums: The Party Album, Alexis Korner And... 1972-1983, 1961-1972, Alexis Korner Blues, Bootleg Him!
- Blues Incorporated were a British R&B band in the early 1960s, led by Alexis Korner and featuring at various times Jack Bruce, Charlie Watts, Terry Cox, Davy Graham, Ginger Baker, Long John Baldry, Ronnie Jones, Danny Thompson, Graham Bond, Cyril Davies, Malcolm Cecil and Dick Heckstall-Smith.
- Albums: Sky High, Red Hot From Alex, R&B From the Marquee, Alexis Korner's Blues Incorporated, At the Cavern
- Alfred Giovanni Roncalli Boe OBE (born 29 September 1973) is an English tenor and actor, notably performing in musical theatre.He is best known for his performances as Jean Valjean in the musical Les Misérables at the Queen's Theatre in London, the Les Misérables: 25th Anniversary Concert in October 2010, and in the Broadway revival. He played the lead role in Finding Neverland on Broadway beginning 29 March 2016. As well, Boe shared a Tony Award with the other members of the ensemble cast of Baz Luhrmann's 2002 revival of La bohème in 2003. He has sold more than one million albums in the United Kingdom.
- Albums: Alfie, You'll Never Walk Alone, Onward, Classic FM Presents Alfie Boe, Bring Him Home
- Alfred Aholo Apaka, Jr. (March 19, 1919 – January 30, 1960) was a Hawaiian singer whose romantic baritone voice was closely identified with Hawaii between the late 1940s and the early 1960s. Alfred Apaka was arguably the foremost interpreter of Hapa haole music, which melded Hawaiian music with traditional pop music arrangements and English lyrics to convey Polynesian imagery and themes.
- Albums: Greatest Hits of Hawaii, Alfred Apaka's Greatest Hits, The Best of Alfred Apaka with the Hawaiian Village Serenaders
- Alun Davies (born 1942) is a Welsh guitarist, studio musician, recording artist, and composer who rose to fame primarily with his supporting guitar work and backing vocals as accompanist for English musician Cat Stevens, from early 1970 to 1977. Prior to his association with Stevens, Davies co-wrote, sang, and performed on two albums: in 1963, with Jon Mark, (known then as John Michael Burchell) and in 1968, as a member of the band Sweet Thursday with Mark, keyboardist Nicky Hopkins, Harvey Burns and Brian Odgers , when folk-rock music was still in its infancy. When their label declared bankruptcy, Davies was invited to join Cat Stevens as a session musician, who was attempting to change his sound and advance in the music world. Davies' experience, similar tastes in the emerging folk-rock genre, and capabilities with guitar and voice placed him in a pivotal role in Stevens' career, resulting in hit songs and a string of RIAA platinum certified breakthrough albums. Two such albums, Tea for the Tillerman and Teaser and the Firecat, propelled Stevens to stardom and a stellar musical career, and solidified a friendship between the two men. Davies, who recorded a solo album after a few years of backing Stevens found comparatively little commercial success on his own, particularly after several years of sitting in Stevens' charismatic shadow. He continued to tour with him and recorded on all but one of his albums, until Stevens' conversion to Islam and retirement from the pop scene in 1977. Since that time, many "box sets", compilations, and "best hits" albums have been assembled for sale with Davies' guitar work and vocals on each album. In late 2005, when Stevens (now known as Yusuf Islam) returned again to write and perform, he did so with the amicable support of his friend and long-time right-hand man Davies, although nearly three decades had passed, and the two men had followed extremely different paths during the interim. Davies continues to perform with Yusuf to the present day, in addition to pursuing other musical projects. Though he played on Yusuf's first record (An Other Cup, 2005), he did not appear on Yusuf's record Roadsinger (2009).
- Albums: Relax Your Mind
- Admiral Amos Easton (May 7, 1905 – June 8, 1968), better known by the stage name Bumble Bee Slim, was an American Piedmont blues singer and guitarist.
- Albums: From Georgia to Chicago 1931-1937, Complete Recorded Works in Chronological Order, Volume 2: 23 March to 27 October 1934
- Andrea Bocelli, an Italian tenor, multi-instrumentalist, and music producer, has been a prominent figure in the world of classical and pop music since the 1980s. Born on September 22, 1958, in Lajatico, Italy, Bocelli displayed an early interest in music, learning to play the piano, flute, and saxophone as a child. Despite being diagnosed with congenital glaucoma and subsequently losing his sight completely after a football accident at age 12, Bocelli's passion for music remained undeterred. This led him to study law at the University of Pisa while performing in piano bars and nightclubs to finance his education. Bocelli's breakthrough arrived in 1992 when he was invited by Italian rock star Zucchero Fornaciari to audition for the demo tapes of Miserere. His performance impressed tenor Luciano Pavarotti, which paved the way for Bocelli's debut album, Il Mare Calmo Della Sera, in 1994. This album quickly ascended the Italian charts, marking the beginning of Bocelli's rapid rise to international fame. Over the years, he has released numerous successful albums spanning both pop and classical genres, including Sogno and Sacred Arias, which have sold millions of copies worldwide. Known for his distinctive voice and emotive performances, Bocelli has received numerous accolades throughout his career. He has won the Golden Globe for Best Original Song, has been nominated for both Grammy and Academy Awards, and was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Beyond his musical achievements, Bocelli has also made significant humanitarian contributions through the Andrea Bocelli Foundation, which supports various causes including poverty alleviation and disability rights. His enduring influence on the global music scene and commitment to philanthropy solidify Bocelli's status as a musical icon and humanitarian.
- Albums: Carmen - Duets & Arias, Georges Bizet, Sentimento, Romanza, Amore
- Andrew Latimer (born 17 May 1949, Guildford, Surrey, England) is an English musician and composer who is a founding member of the progressive rock band Camel. Best known as a guitarist and singer, Latimer is a flautist and keyboardist as well.Latimer's most common guitar of choice is a Gibson Les Paul, but he is also known for playing Fender Stratocasters and other guitars. From the 1990s onward, he also played a Burny Super Grade, an 80s copy of the Gibson Les Paul Model. The amplifiers he uses range from Fender, Vox, and Marshall. Along with partner Susan Hoover, Latimer relocated to America where they established a music production company named Camel Productions to release Camel's new studio albums: Dust and Dreams (1991), Harbour of Tears (1996), Rajaz (1999) and A Nod and a Wink (2002) as well as a host of "Official Bootlegs" on CD. The band went on the road in 1992, 1997, 2000, 2001, and 2003. They released their first full concert DVD in 1997 titled Coming of Age which began a series of subsequent DVD releases. In mid-2006, Latimer and Hoover returned to the UK and established Camel Productions UK Ltd. In May 2007, Hoover announced through the Camel Productions website and newsletter that Latimer had suffered from a progressive blood disorder polycythaemia vera since 1992, which had unexpectedly progressed to myelofibrosis. In November 2007, he underwent a successful bone marrow transplant and began a long road to full recovery. In October 2013, Latimer took Camel back to centre stage. To celebrate the occasion, Camel played The Snow Goose in its entirety for the first set and dedicated it to the co-founding band members Andy Ward, Peter Bardens (deceased) and Doug Ferguson. Additionally, Camel had re-recorded the album earlier in the year. The re-recording remains remarkably faithful to the original, but includes some minor rearrangements and some extended sections. A live DVD, titled In From The Cold, was recorded at the Barbican Centre London. The Snow Goose tour had been a complete sellout and the band was asked to continue in early 2014. However, the second half of the tour featured Ton Scherpenzeel (Kayak) as keyboardist Guy Leblanc had become seriously ill, subsequently passing away on 27 April 2015.Despite being troubled by arthritis is his hands and knees, Latimer took Camel back on the road in 2015. In 2016 they toured Japan with new keyboardist Pete Jones and in 2018 Camel toured extensively featuring their most popular recording Moonmadness. The 2018 tour culminated with the band's return to The Royal Albert Hall where a sellout crowd embraced the occasion. The performance was video recorded for anticipated release on DVD and Blu-Ray.
- Andrew Kirk may refer to: Andrew Jackson Kirk (1866–1933), U.S. Representative from Kentucky Andrew Kirk (rugby league), English professional rugby league footballer Andy Kirk (musician) (1898–1992), jazz musician Andy Kirk (footballer) (born 1979), Northern Irish association football player Andy Kirk (soccer) (born 1977), American association football player Drew Kirk, fictional character in the Australian soap opera Neighbours
- Angela Gheorghiu (Romanian pronunciation: [anˈd͡ʒela ɡe̯orˈɡi.u] (listen); née Burlacu; born 7 September 1965) is a Romanian soprano.Since her professional debut in 1990, she has performed in leading roles of several operas at New York's Metropolitan Opera, London's Royal Opera House, the Vienna State Opera, Milan's La Scala, and many other opera houses in Europe and the United States. She has a substantial discography primarily with EMI Classics and Decca and is especially known for her performances in the operas of Puccini.
- Albums: Madama Butterfly, Casta Diva, Duets and Arias, Classical 2011, Arias
- Annie Lennox, a name that resonates with the rhythm of pop and soul music, was born on December 25, 1954, in Aberdeen, Scotland. From her early years, she was immersed in music, studying at the Royal Academy of Music in London from 1971 to 1973. However, it was not classical music but the vibrant world of pop where Lennox found her true calling. She began her illustrious career as the lead singer of The Tourists, a British pop band in the late 70s. Despite their moderate success, it was the formation of Eurythmics with fellow band member Dave Stewart in 1980 that propelled Lennox into the international spotlight. As a part of Eurythmics, Lennox's distinctive voice and androgynous image became popular symbols of the 1980s music scene. The duo released numerous hits, such as "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)" and "Here Comes the Rain Again", that topped charts worldwide. Their eclectic style of music, blending elements of pop, new wave, and soul, was lauded by critics and fans alike. After a decade of success, Eurythmics disbanded in 1990, marking the beginning of Lennox's solo career. Venturing out as a solo artist, Lennox continued to enchant audiences with her unique blend of musical styles. Her debut album, Diva, released in 1992, was a commercial success and established her as a leading figure in pop music. Her subsequent albums, including Medusa and Songs of Mass Destruction, further cemented her reputation and garnered her numerous accolades, including eight Brit Awards, four Grammys, and an Academy Award. Beyond her musical accomplishments, Lennox is also known for her philanthropic work, particularly in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
- Albums: Diva, Why, Songs of Mass Destruction, Live in Central Park, Dance Vault Mixes - Pavement Cracks
- Antônio Carlos Brasileiro de Almeida Jobim, often hailed as one of the greatest songwriters of the 20th century, was a pivotal figure in the development and global popularization of bossa nova music. Born on January 25, 1927, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, this iconic musician exhibited an early attraction towards music, particularly that which encapsulated the spirit of his Brazilian heritage. He studied music theory, harmony, and composition in his youth, laying the foundation for his phenomenal career. Jobim's professional journey began in the late 1950s when he teamed up with poet Vinicius de Moraes to write a play. This collaboration became a cornerstone for Jobim's career, leading to the creation of songs like "Se Todos Fossem Iguais a Você" and "A Felicidade", both of which later became classic pieces of the bossa nova canon. However, it was the song "The Girl from Ipanema", co-written with de Moraes and Norman Gimbel, that catapulted Jobim to international fame. This Grammy-winning song went on to become one of the most recorded songs in history, firmly establishing Jobim's position among the greats of world music. Over his career, Jobim composed more than 400 songs, many of which have been covered by prominent musicians worldwide. His compositions seamlessly blended elements of jazz with traditional Brazilian rhythms, producing a unique sound that left an indelible mark on the music industry. Jobim passed away in 1994, but his legacy continues to live on. His contributions to bossa nova and world music have been celebrated posthumously with numerous honors, including induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame and the Latin Grammy Trustees Award.
- Albums: Antonio Brasileiro, Getz/Gilberto (feat. Antonio Carlos Jobim), Elis, Jobim, Musicalmente
- Arrival was a London-based close-harmony pop-rock band featuring singers originally from Liverpool. Following its appearance on Maynard Ferguson's 1970 UK television special and two chart hits, "Friends" and "I Will Survive", the band was booked to appear at the Isle of Wight Festival 1970. After Arrival disbanded, its members joined other projects such as Kokomo, The Olympic Runners and Gonzalez, and became session musicians or session singers.
- Albums: Friends, Arrival
- Arthur Tatum Jr. (, October 13, 1909 – November 5, 1956) was an American jazz pianist. Tatum grew up in Toledo, Ohio, where he began playing professionally and had his own radio program, rebroadcast nationwide, while still in his teens. He left Toledo in 1932 and had residencies as a solo pianist at clubs in major urban centers including New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles. Throughout his career, Tatum also played for long periods at night in after-hours venues – at which he was often more spontaneous and creative than in his paid-for performances – and drank enormous quantities of alcohol. Although drinking did not negatively affect his playing, it did damage his health. In the 1940s, Tatum led a commercially successful trio for a short time and began playing in more formal jazz concert settings, including at Norman Granz-produced Jazz at the Philharmonic events. Granz recorded Tatum extensively in solo and small group formats in the mid-1950s, with the last session occurring only two months before the pianist's death from uremia at the age of 47. Tatum is widely regarded as one of the greatest jazz pianists. His playing encompassed everything that had come before, added great harmonic and rhythmic imagination and complexity, and was often at very high speed. He extended what was considered possible in jazz piano and established new ground in jazz more broadly through innovative use of reharmonization, voicing, and bitonality.
- Albums: The Tatum Group Masterpieces, The Discovery of Jazz, The Art Tatum Solo Masterpieces, Volume 3, Body and Soul
- Ashley Dwayne MacIsaac (born February 24, 1975) is a Canadian fiddler, singer and songwriter from Cape Breton Island. He has received three Juno Awards, winning for Best New Solo Artist and Best Roots & Traditional Album – Solo at the Juno Awards of 1996, and for Best Instrumental Artist at the Juno Awards of 1997. His 1995 album Hi™ How Are You Today? was a double-platinum selling Canadian record. MacIsaac published an autobiography, Fiddling with Disaster in 2003.
- Albums: Hi™ How Are You Today?, Close to the Floor, Crossover, Fine® Thank You Very Much: A Traditional Album, Helter's Celtic
- Atlanta Rhythm Section (or ARS) is an American Southern rock band, formed in 1970 by Rodney Justo (singer), Barry Bailey (guitar), Paul Goddard (bass), Dean Daughtry (keyboards), Robert Nix (drums) and James B. Cobb, Jr. (guitar). The band's current lineup consists of Daughtry and Justo, along with guitarists David Anderson and Steve Stone, bassist Justin Senker and drummer Rodger Stephan.
- Albums: Eufaula, Atlanta Rhythm Section, Partly Plugged, Third Annual Pipe Dream, Back Up Against the Wall
- Atomic Rooster were an English rock band, originally formed by former members of The Crazy World of Arthur Brown. Throughout their history, keyboardist Vincent Crane was the only constant member, and wrote the majority of their material. Their history is defined by two periods: the early-mid-1970s and the early 1980s. The band went through radical style changes, however they are best known for the hard, progressive rock sound of their hit singles, "Tomorrow Night" and "The Devil's Answer", both in 1971.
- Albums: Made in England, Nice 'n' Greasy, Atomic Roooster, In Hearing of Atomic Rooster, Atomic Rooster
- Monique Andrée Serf (June 9, 1930 – November 24, 1997) was a French singer. She took her stage name, Barbara, from her grandmother, Varvara Brodsky, a native of Odessa, Russian Empire (now Ukraine). Her song "L'Aigle noir" sold 1 million copies in twelve hours.
- Albums: L'aigle noir, Barbara, Barbara singt Barbara, Barbara chante Barbara, Lily Passion
- Bennett Lester Carter (August 8, 1907 – July 12, 2003) was an American jazz saxophonist, clarinetist, trumpeter, composer, arranger, and bandleader. With Johnny Hodges, he was a pioneer on the alto saxophone. From the beginning of his career in the 1920s he was a popular arranger, having written charts for Fletcher Henderson's big band that shaped the swing style. He had an unusually long career that lasted into the 1990s. During the 1980s and '90s, he was nominated for eight Grammy Awards, which included receiving a Lifetime Achievement Award.
- Albums: My Kind of Trouble (feat. Joe Pass, Art Hillery, Andy Simpkins & Ronnie Bedford), The Complete Benny Carter on Keynote, Additions to Further Definitions
- Benny Goodman, born on May 30, 1909, in Chicago, Illinois, was an American jazz musician known for his exceptional talent as a clarinetist and bandleader. Goodman's musical journey began at a young age, with his first lessons taking place at the local synagogue. He later received training at the Hull House, where he was exposed to classical music. By the time he was 14 years old, Goodman was already playing professionally in various bands. His early exposure to different music genres greatly influenced his style, leading him to become one of the pioneers of swing music. Goodman's career took a significant turn in 1934 when he formed his own band, Benny Goodman and His Orchestra. The band gained fame with their weekly radio show Let's Dance, which introduced swing music to a wider audience. Goodman's orchestra was known for its energetic performances and innovative arrangements, often blending classical and jazz elements. This unique sound earned them the nickname "The King of Swing." Goodman's band was also notable for breaking racial barriers, as one of the first integrated jazz groups to gain widespread popularity. Throughout his career, Goodman made significant contributions to the music industry. He was known for his collaborations with other notable musicians, including Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, and Count Basie. His outstanding performances at venues like Carnegie Hall helped to elevate jazz music to a respected art form. Goodman's remarkable ability to blend different music styles, coupled with his commitment to racial integration in his band, has left a lasting legacy in the world of music. Despite his passing on June 13, 1986, Goodman's influence continues to be felt in contemporary jazz and swing music.
- Albums: The Famous Carnegie Hall Jazz Concert 1938, 1938 Carnegie Hall Jazz Concert, B.G. in Hi-Fi, Part One, Giants of Jazz
Bern Elliott & The Fenmen
Pop music, Rhythm and blues, Rock and rollBern Elliott and the Fenmen were a British beat group, active between 1961 and 1964, and best known for their 1963 cover version of the song, "Money".- Albums: Money
- Bert Kaempfert (born Berthold Heinrich Kämpfert, 16 October 1923 – 21 June 1980) was a German orchestra leader, multi-instrumentalist, music producer, arranger, and composer. He made easy listening and jazz-oriented records and wrote the music for a number of well-known songs, including "Strangers in the Night" and "Moon Over Naples".
- Albums: Christmas Wonderland, Orange Colored Sky, Red Roses, Dreamin' & Swingin' Christmas Wonderland, The Taste of Kaempfert
Betty Jean Robinson
Christian music, Gospel musicBetty Jean Robinson is a Christian music singer and songwriter.- Joseph Vernon "Big Joe" Turner Jr. (May 18, 1911 – November 24, 1985) was an American blues shouter from Kansas City, Missouri. According to songwriter Doc Pomus, "Rock and roll would have never happened without him." His greatest fame was due to his rock-and-roll recordings in the 1950s, particularly "Shake, Rattle and Roll", but his career as a performer endured from the 1920s into the 1980s.Turner was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987, with the Hall lauding him as "the brawny voiced 'Boss of the Blues'".
- Albums: Big, Bad & Blue: The Big Joe Turner Anthology, All the Classic Hits 1938-1952, Greatest Hits, Greatest Hits 1938-52 (disc 5)
- James William Anderson III (born November 1, 1937), known as Whisperin’ Bill Anderson, is an American country music singer, songwriter and television personality. He has been a member in long standing of the weekly Grand Ole Opry radio program and stage performance in Nashville, Tennessee, since 1961. He has released more than 40 studio albums and has reached No. 1 on the country charts seven times: "Mama Sang a Song" (1962), "Still" (1963), "I Get the Fever" (1966), "For Loving You" (with Jan Howard, 1967), "My Life (Throw It Away If I Want To)" (1969), "World of Make Believe" (1973), and "Sometimes" (with Mary Lou Turner, 1976). Twenty-nine more of his singles have reached the top ten. One of the most successful songwriters in country music history, Anderson is also a popular singer, earning the nickname "Whisperin' Bill" for his soft vocal style and occasional spoken narrations. Artists who have recorded his material include Ray Price, Wanda Jackson, Connie Smith, Lynn Anderson, Jim Reeves, Conway Twitty, Eddy Arnold, Roy Clark, Con Hunley, Lefty Frizzell, Brad Paisley, Kenny Chesney, and George Strait. Bill Anderson had his own television show in the 1960s. Anderson has made several television appearances, including two stints as a game show host: The Better Sex (with co-host Sarah Purcell) in 1977, and the country music-themed quiz show Fandango (1983–1989) on The Nashville Network. He has also hosted an interview show called Opry Backstage and was a producer of a talent show called You Can Be a Star, hosted by fellow Opry member Jim Ed Brown, both shows on the former Nashville Network, and has made guest appearances on several other television series. Anderson is a member of the Grand Ole Opry, the Country Music Hall of Fame, the Songwriters Hall of Fame and the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.
- Albums: Country Music Heaven, Oh Boy Classics Presents Bill Anderson, Songwriter, Christmas, A Lot of Things Different
- William Toliver Carlisle (December 19, 1908 – March 17, 2003), better known as Bill Carlisle and Jumpin' Bill Carlisle, was an American country music singer, songwriter, comedian, and guitarist popular in the late 1940s and 1950s but who influenced the genre for more than 50 years. He is a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame.
- William John Clifton Haley (; July 6, 1925 – February 9, 1981) was an American rock and roll musician. He is credited by many with first popularizing this form of music in the early 1950s with his group Bill Haley & His Comets and million-selling hits such as "Rock Around the Clock", "See You Later, Alligator", "Shake, Rattle and Roll", "Rocket 88", "Skinny Minnie", and "Razzle Dazzle". He has sold over 60 million records worldwide and has been described as the greatest musical pioneer of the 20th century.
- Albums: Rock Around the Clock, Best of Bill Haley & His Comets, Bill Rocks, The Best of Bill Haley, Bill Haley (Master Series)
Billie Davis
Pop musicBillie Davis (born Carol Hedges, 22 December 1945, Woking, Surrey, England) is an English female singer who had hits in the 1960s, and is best remembered for the UK hit version of the song, "Tell Him" (1963) and "I Want You to Be My Baby" (1968).- Albums: Tell Him: The Decca Years
- Born as Eleanora Fagan in 1915, Billie Holiday swiftly rose to prominence as one of the most influential jazz vocalists of all time. Her journey from a tumultuous childhood in Philadelphia to the bright lights of New York City's jazz scene is a testament to her indomitable spirit and unyielding passion for music. Despite her lack of formal training, Holiday's unique vocal style - marked by her innovative manipulation of tempo and rhythm - left an indelible mark on the world of music. Holiday began singing in nightclubs in Harlem at a young age and was discovered by producer John Hammond in the early 1930s. Her collaboration with Benny Goodman, which yielded hits like "Riffin' the Scotch" and "Your Mother's Son-in-Law", catapulted her into the national spotlight. However, it was her poignant rendition of "Strange Fruit", a song that spoke against racial violence, that solidified her place in music history. Throughout her career, Holiday worked with jazz luminaries such as Lester Young, Count Basie, and Artie Shaw, further enhancing her reputation as a formidable talent. Despite her professional success, Holiday's personal life was fraught with hardships. She battled substance addiction and faced numerous legal troubles, factors that significantly affected her later performances and recordings. Nevertheless, she continued to perform until her death in 1959, leaving behind a legacy that continues to inspire generations of musicians. Holiday's remarkable ability to convey deep emotion through her music, coupled with her fearless approach to tackling controversial subjects, forever cemented her status as a transformative figure in the world of jazz.
- Albums: Lady in Satin, Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday at Newport, The Best of Billie Holiday, Billie Holiday Sings, Lady Sings the Blues
- Ronald Wycherley (17 April 1940 – 28 January 1983), better known by his stage name Billy Fury, was an English singer from the late 1950s to the mid 1960s, and remained an active songwriter until the 1980s. Rheumatic fever, which he first contracted as a child, damaged his heart and ultimately contributed to his death. An early British rock and roll (and film) star, he equalled the Beatles' record of 24 hits in the 1960s, and spent 332 weeks on the UK chart, without a chart-topping single or album.AllMusic journalist Bruce Eder stated, "His mix of rough-hewn good looks and unassuming masculinity, coupled with an underlying vulnerability, all presented with a good voice and some serious musical talent, helped turn Fury into a major rock and roll star in short order". Others have suggested that Fury's rapid rise to prominence was due to his "Elvis Presley-influenced hip swivelling and, at times, highly suggestive stage act."
- Albums: Classics and Collectibles, All the Best, Halfway to Paradise, The Sound of Fury + 10, Letter Full of Tears
- Billy Wayne Grammer (August 28, 1925 – August 10, 2011) was an American country music singer and accomplished guitar player. He recorded the million-selling "Gotta Travel On", which made it onto both the country and pop music charts in 1959. Grammer would become a regular performer on the Grand Ole Opry, eventually designing, and marketing his namesake guitar after co-founding a guitar company, in Nashville, Tennessee.
- Albums: Gotta Travel On / Chasing a Dream
Billy Ward and the Dominoes
Doo-wopBilly Ward and his Dominoes were an African-American R&B vocal group. One of the most successful R&B groups of the early 1950s, the Dominoes helped launch the singing careers of two notable members, Clyde McPhatter and Jackie Wilson.- Albums: The Very Best of Billy Ward and the Dominos, Sixty Minute Man, Sixty Minute Men: The Best of Billy Ward & His Dominoes, Rags to Riches / Don't Thank Me, Yours Forever
- With his remarkably smooth and velvety baritone voice, Bing Crosby rose from obscurity to become the most popular singer in the world, dominating the record and singles charts for a 20-year stretch and enjoying a more than respectable popularity for the rest of his life. He also became an extremely successful actor, appearing in 70+ films, and charmed moviegoers everywhere with his relaxed performing style. Following a string of early hit singles, Crosby was recruited by Paramount Pictures and enjoyed a long-time partnership with Bob Hope on the highly popular series of "Road" movies, which served up endearing cocktails of humor and song. He was also highly impressive in many of his solo efforts, most notably "Going My Way" (1944), for which Crosby won the Best Actor Academy Award, "A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court" (1949) and "The Country Girl" (1954). Crosby's reign as one of the leading pop culture figures in America was dampened somewhat by the rise of rock-n-roll, but he maintained a huge fanbase and songs like "White Christmas," "I'll Be Seeing You" and "Swinging on a Star" were unmistakably his. Crosby's success across multiple mediums was truly remarkable and he was arguably the leading entertainment figure of the 20th century.
- Albums: Merry Christmas, Bing Crosby's Christmas Classics, White Christmas, Christmas, Christmas With Bing Crosby
- Black Ace was the most frequently used stage name of the American Texas blues musician born Babe Kyro Lemon Turner (December 21, 1905 – November 7, 1972), who was also known as B. K. Turner, Black Ace Turner, Babe Turner and Buck Turner. He was born in Hughes Springs, Texas, and was raised on his family's farm. He taught himself to play guitar and performed in east Texas from the late 1920s on. In the early 1930s he began playing with Smokey Hogg and Oscar "Buddy" Woods, a Hawaiian-style guitarist who played with the instrument flat on his lap. Turner then bought a National steel guitar and began playing what a later critic called "Hawaii meets the Delta," smooth and simple blues.In 1937, Turner recorded six songs (possibly with Hogg as second guitarist) for Decca Records in Dallas, including the blues song "Black Ace". In the same year, he started a radio show on KFJZ in Fort Worth, using that recording as a theme song, and soon assumed the name.In 1941, he appeared in The Blood of Jesus, an African-American movie produced by Spencer Williams Jr. In 1943 Turner was drafted into the United States Army and gave up playing music for some years. In 1960, Chris Strachwitz, the owner of Arhoolie Records, persuaded him to record an album for Arhoolie. His last public performance was in the 1962 film documentary The Blues. Turner died of cancer in Fort Worth in 1972.
Black Cat Bones
Blues-rockBlack Cat Bones was a British heavy blues rock group from London. The band is perhaps best known for having had Paul Kossoff and Simon Kirke in its lineup, both of whom later joined Free in 1968. Kirke also became a founding member of Bad Company in 1974.- Albums: Barbed Wire Sandwich
- Blind Willie McTell (born William Samuel McTier; May 5, 1898 – August 19, 1959) was a Piedmont blues and ragtime singer and guitarist. He played with a fluid, syncopated fingerstyle guitar technique, common among many exponents of Piedmont blues. Unlike his contemporaries, he came to use twelve-string guitars exclusively. McTell was also an adept slide guitarist, unusual among ragtime bluesmen. His vocal style, a smooth and often laid-back tenor, differed greatly from many of the harsher voices of Delta bluesmen such as Charley Patton. McTell performed in various musical styles, including blues, ragtime, religious music and hokum. McTell was born in Thomson, Georgia. He learned to play the guitar in his early teens. He soon became a street performer in several Georgia cities, including Atlanta and Augusta, and first recorded in 1927 for Victor Records. He never produced a major hit record, but he had a prolific recording career with different labels and under different names in the 1920s and 1930s. In 1940, he was recorded by the folklorist John A. Lomax and Ruby Terrill Lomax for the folk song archive of the Library of Congress. He was active in the 1940s and 1950s, playing on the streets of Atlanta, often with his longtime associate Curley Weaver. Twice more he recorded professionally. His last recordings originated during an impromptu session recorded by an Atlanta record store owner in 1956. McTell died three years later, having suffered for years from diabetes and alcoholism. Despite his lack of commercial success, he was one of the few blues musicians of his generation who continued to actively play and record during the 1940s and 1950s. He did not live to see the American folk music revival, in which many other bluesmen were "rediscovered".McTell's influence extended over a wide variety of artists, including the Allman Brothers Band, who covered his "Statesboro Blues", and Bob Dylan, who paid tribute to him in his 1983 song "Blind Willie McTell", the refrain of which is "And I know no one can sing the blues like Blind Willie McTell". Other artists influenced by McTell include Taj Mahal, Alvin Youngblood Hart, Ralph McTell, Chris Smither, Jack White, and the White Stripes.
- Albums: Mr. McTell Got the Blues, Complete Recorded Works in Chronological Order, Volume 2: 23 October 1931 to 19 September 1933, Complete Recorded Works in Chronological Order, Volume 3: 21 September 1933 to 25 April 1935
- Bloodstone is an American R&B, soul, and funk group, most popular in the 1970s and early 1980s. The band charted thirteen songs between 1973 and 1984.
- Albums: Natural High, Unreal, Don't Stop, Go on and Cry, We Go a Long Way Back
- Robert Castle Schoen (born February 1, 1934), known professionally as Bob Shane, is an American singer and guitarist and, with Nick Reynolds's death in October 2008, the only surviving founding member of The Kingston Trio. In that capacity, Shane became a seminal figure in the revival of folk and other acoustic music as a popular art form in the U.S. in the late 1950s through the mid-1960s. The success of the Kingston Trio in its heyday had repercussions far beyond its voluminous album sales (including four albums simultaneously in the Top 10 in 1959), its host of imitators, and the relatively short-lived pop-folk boom it created. For the Kingston Trio's success took acoustic folk-based music out of the niche market it had occupied prior to the Trio's arrival and moved it into the mainstream of American popular music, opening the door for major record labels to record and market both more traditional folk musicians and singer-songwriters as well.
- Bobbejaan Schoepen (a pseudonym of Modest Schoepen; 16 May 1925 – 17 May 2010) was a Flemish pioneer in Belgian pop music, vaudeville, and European country music. Schoepen was a versatile entertainer, entrepreneur, singer-songwriter, guitarist, comedian, actor, and professional whistler, as well as the founder and former director of the amusement park, Bobbejaanland. His musical career flourished from 1948 until the first half of the 1970s. He sold more than five million copies from his repertoire of 482 songs, which extended from Twang, cabaret, instrumental film music, chansons, country, to folk and vocal music. Born in Boom, Antwerp, Flanders, Belgium, he worked his way up from a working-class environment to become one of the 200 richest people in Belgium.Schoepen married Dutch former opera singer and photographer's model Josephina (Josée) Jongen on 18 May 1961. They have five children: Robert ("Bob Jr.", 1962), Myriam (1963), Jacky (1964), Peggy (1968), and Tom (1970). His son Tom became his manager in Belgium.
- Albums: Ich steh an der Bar und habe kein Geld, Groeten uit Lichtaart 3, Bobbejaan, The World of Bobbejaan - Songbook, Het beste van
- Bobby Darin, born Walden Robert Cassotto on May 14, 1936, was a multi-talented American singer, songwriter, and actor who left an indelible mark on the entertainment industry. His journey began in The Bronx, New York City, where he was raised by his maternal grandmother. Despite being diagnosed with rheumatic fever at a young age, which significantly weakened his heart, Darin didn't let his health challenges deter him from pursuing his dreams. He was known for his tenacity and drive to succeed, attributes that would serve him well throughout his career. Darin's music career took off in the late 1950s, where he distinguished himself through a wide range of musical styles, including pop, country, jazz, and folk. His first major hit, "Splish Splash," catapulted him into the limelight in 1958. However, it was his rendition of "Mack the Knife" in 1959 that solidified his place in music history, earning him two Grammy Awards and becoming his best-known song. Darin was not just limited to singing; he was also a skilled songwriter, penning songs for other artists, including "Early in the Morning" for Buddy Holly. Darin's talents extended beyond music into acting. He appeared in several films and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in Captain Newman, M.D. in 1963. As an entertainer, Darin was celebrated for his charismatic performances and his ability to captivate audiences. Despite his early demise at the age of 37 due to complications from his lifelong heart condition, Darin's legacy lives on. His contributions to the entertainment industry were recognized posthumously with his induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990 and the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1999.
- Albums: Beyond the Sea: The Very Best of Bobby Darin, You're the Reason I'm Living / I Wanna Be Around, Bobby Darin Sings Doctor Doolitle / Born Walden Robert Cassotto, Great Gentlemen of Song: Spotlight On..., Oh! Look at Me Now
Bobby Jameson
Robert Parker Jameson (April 20, 1945 – May 12, 2015) was an American singer-songwriter who was briefly promoted as a major star in the early 1960s and later attracted a cult following with his 1965 album Songs of Protest and Anti-Protest, issued under the name Chris Lucey. The album's dark lyrics and sophisticated arrangements led its advocates to note similarities with Love's 1967 album Forever Changes. For decades, little was known about Jameson or his origins, and he was more famous for engaging in public disturbances and suicide attempts than his music.Starting his career in 1963, Jameson was hyped as the next major pop event in an elaborate promotional campaign that ran in the magazines Billboard and Cashbox. For the next five years, he released 11 singles across eight different American and British record labels. At one point, he was the opening live act for the Beach Boys, Jan and Dean, and Chubby Checker, and also declined an offer to join the Monkees. From the mid 1960s to early 1970s, Jameson was active in Los Angeles underground music circles, working with musicians such as Frank Zappa and members of Crazy Horse. During this period, he participated in the Sunset Strip riots, appeared as a subject in the 1967 documentary Mondo Hollywood, and garnered a reputation as someone who had ruined his chances at success. After Songs of Protest and Anti-Protest, he released only two more albums: Color Him In (1967), a collaboration with Curt Boettcher, and Working (1969), an album of cover songs. Jameson's life was affected by personal misfortune, followed by alcoholism and criminal activity. He grew increasingly frustrated and disillusioned with the music industry, alleging that his managers and employers failed to ensure him financial compensation and royalties, and that some companies had illegally claimed the intellectual property rights to his songs. For much of the 1970s he was institutionalized or homeless, but eventually achieved sobriety. After 1985, he left the music business completely, and was rumored to be dead for many years. In 2002, Songs of Protest and Anti-Protest was reissued without Jameson's knowledge, and in response, he resurfaced in 2007 with a series of autobiographical blog posts and YouTube videos, which he maintained until his death in 2015.- Robert L. Lord (January 6, 1934 – February 16, 2008), better known as Bobby Lord, was an American country music artist popular in the 1950s and 1960s.
- Albums: Everybody's Rockin'
- Born as Steven Demetre Georgiou in July 1948, Cat Stevens is an internationally celebrated singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. His journey into the world of music began during his teenage years in England when he started showcasing his talent at local cafes. This led to him being discovered in 1966, and subsequently signing a deal with Decca Records. Under this label, Stevens released his first album Matthew and Son, which charted within the top ten in the UK. Stevens's early success was followed by a series of health and personal challenges that temporarily halted his musical career, but also significantly shaped his artistic direction. After battling tuberculosis in 1969, he returned to the music scene with a fresh perspective and a more introspective sound. His comeback albums Tea for the Tillerman and Teaser and the Firecat are widely considered his best works, featuring timeless hits like "Wild World", "Father and Son", and "Morning has Broken". These albums established Stevens as a leading figure in the folk-rock genre. In 1977, following a near-death experience, Stevens converted to Islam, adopted the name Yusuf Islam, and took a prolonged hiatus from his musical career to focus on philanthropy and education. He returned to recording and performing in 2006, blending his folk-rock roots with Islamic themes and sounds. With a career spanning over five decades, Cat Stevens, now known as Yusuf, has influenced countless artists.
- Albums: Tea for the Tillerman, The Very Best Of, Teaser and the Firecat, Izitso, An Other Cup
- Bond or BOND (formerly often typeset as bond in deference to the owners of the 007 trademark) is an Australian/British string quartet that specialises in classical crossover and synth-pop music. The quartet has sold over 4 million records.
- Albums: Shine, Explosive: The Best of bond, Remixed, Classified, Born
- Frank Boudewijn de Groot (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈbʌu̯dəʋɛi̯n də ˈɣroːt], born 20 May 1944) is a Dutch singer-songwriter, known for "Welterusten Meneer de President" (1966).
- Albums: Picknick, Maalstroom, Grootste hits, Waar ik woon en wie ik ben, Van Een Afstand
- Boyz II Men is an American R&B vocal group from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, best known for emotional ballads and a cappella harmonies. They are currently a trio composed of baritone Nathan Morris alongside tenors Wanya Morris and Shawn Stockman. During the 1990s, Boyz II Men found fame on Motown Records as a quartet including bass Michael McCary, who left the group in 2003 due to health issues.During the 1990s, Boyz II Men gained international success. This began with the release of top 5 singles "Motownphilly" and "It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday" in 1991, followed by the number one single "End of the Road" in 1992, which reached the top of charts worldwide. "End of the Road" set a new record for longevity, staying at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 for thirteen weeks, breaking the decades-old record held by Elvis Presley. Boyz II Men proceeded to break this record with the subsequent releases of "I'll Make Love to You" and "One Sweet Day" (with Mariah Carey), which, at fourteen and sixteen weeks respectively, each set new records for the total number of weeks at number one. "I'll Make Love to You" also topped the charts in Australia (for four weeks) and garnered international success. As of 2019, the record has been dethroned by Lil Nas X, whose single Old Town Road set a new all-time record with seventeen weeks at the top of the Hot 100, on the Billboard Hot 100 issue dated August 3, 2019.Consequently, Boyz II Men is among the music industry's elite with regard to time spent at number one in Billboard history with 50 cumulative weeks, ranking fourth behind Presley, The Beatles, and Carey. Furthermore, when "On Bended Knee" took the number one spot away from "I'll Make Love to You", Boyz II Men became only the third artists ever (after The Beatles and Presley) to replace themselves at the top of the Billboard Hot 100. These achievements were enough to earn Boyz II Men recognition as Billboard magazine's biggest boy band during the period of 1987 to 2012.Boyz II Men continue to perform worldwide, as a trio. Their most recent studio album, Under The Streetlight, was released in 2017. In June 2017, a section of Broad Street (from Christian to Carpenter Streets) in Philadelphia was renamed "Boyz II Men Boulevard". This section of the street is near the High School for the Creative and Performing Arts, where the members once attended.
- Albums: Christmas Interpretations, II, Evolution, The Remix Collection, Full Circle
- Brenda Lee (born Brenda Mae Tarpley; December 11, 1944) is an American performer and the top-charting solo female vocalist of the 1960s. She sang rockabilly, pop and country music, and had 47 US chart hits during the 1960s, and is ranked fourth in that decade surpassed only by Elvis Presley, the Beatles and Ray Charles. She is known for her 1960 hit "I'm Sorry", and 1958's "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree", which has become a Christmas standard.At 4 ft 9 inches tall (approximately 145 cm), she received the nickname "Little Miss Dynamite" in 1957, after recording the song "Dynamite" when she was 12, and was one of the earliest pop stars to have a major contemporary international following.In 1969, Lee returned to the charts with her recording "Johnny One Time" penned by A.L. "Doodle" Owens and Dallas Frazier. The song reached #3 on "Billboard's Adult Contemporary Chart and #41 on "Billboard's Hot 100." The song also earned Lee her second "Grammy" nomination for "Best Pop Female Vocal." Later success came with a return to her roots as a country singer, with a string of hits through the 1970s and 1980s. She is a member of the Rock and Roll, Country Music and Rockabilly Halls of Fame. She is also a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award recipient. Lee is the only woman to be inducted into both the Rock and Roll and Country Music Halls of Fame. She lives in Nashville, Tennessee.
- Albums: Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree, A Brenda Lee Christmas, Anthology, Volume 1: 1956-1961, 20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection: The Best of Brenda Lee
- Brendan James is an American, piano-based singer/songwriter from Derry, New Hampshire. James spent his early music career playing at New York City open mics before he signed to Capitol Records in 2005. At Capitol he spent a year and a half recording his debut album, but was dropped before its release during the Capitol Records/Virgin Records merger in 2007. After leaving Capitol, he self-produced and released an EP, The Ballroom Break-in. He signed to Decca Records in 2008 and has released two studio albums with the label. His debut album, The Day is Brave, was released in 2008, while his self-titled second album, Brendan James, came out in 2010. He has toured nationally to support the albums, including tours with artists such as Jason Reeves, John Mayer, Tyrone Wells, Matt White, and Amber Rubarth.
- Albums: Simplify, The Day Is Brave, Playing Favorites, Hope in Transition, Brendan James
- Denny Laine (born Brian Frederick Hines; 29 October 1944, in Tyseley, Birmingham) is an English musician, singer, and songwriter known as a founder of two major British rock bands: The Moody Blues, with whom he played from 1964 to 1966, and Paul McCartney and Wings, with whom he played from 1971 to 1981. Laine has worked with a variety of artists and groups over a six decade career, and continues to record and perform as a solo artist. In 2018, Laine was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the Moody Blues.
- Albums: In Flight, Lonely Road, Hometown Girls, Wings on My Feet, Ahh...Laine
- Brian Jones, born as Lewis Brian Hopkin Jones on February 28, 1942, is best known as one of the founding members of the legendary rock band, the Rolling Stones. Born in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England, his passion for music was evident from an early age. With a flair for mastering various instruments, Jones ventured into the world of blues and rock, which led him to cross paths with Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, marking the inception of what would become one of the most iconic rock bands in history. Jones's musical prowess played an instrumental role in shaping the Rolling Stones' initial sound. He was known for his versatility, proficiently playing several instruments including the guitar, harmonica, keyboards, and sitar. His unique style blended traditional rock with experimental sounds, contributing significantly to the diversity of the band's repertoire. However, by the late 1960s, personal issues and substance abuse began to affect his contributions to the band, leading to his departure in June 1969. In addition to his musical career, Jones was known for his complex personality and tumultuous personal life. Famed for his charismatic stage presence, he was simultaneously notorious for his volatile relationships and struggles with substance abuse. Despite these challenges, he remains a significant figure in rock history. Tragically, Jones's life was cut short at the age of 27 when he was found dead in his swimming pool, a case that sparked much speculation and controversy. His legacy continues to influence generations of musicians, underscoring his impact on the world of rock 'n' roll.
- Albums: Brian Jones Presents the Pipes of Pan at Joujouka
- Bryan Adams, globally renowned as one of the greatest rock musicians of his generation, was born on November 5, 1959, in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Born into a military family, Adams cultivated an early interest in music that led him to drop out of high school at the age of 15 and join a band as a lead vocalist. His journey in the music industry began with his self-titled debut album in 1980, which didn't garner much attention. However, his second album, You Want It You Got It, released in 1981, marked the beginning of his success story. Notoriety came knocking on Adams's door with his third album, Cuts Like a Knife in 1983. The album became a huge hit, charting three singles in the top 10. With his distinct raspy vocals and passionate performances, he quickly established himself as a bona fide rock icon. In 1984, he released Reckless, which skyrocketed his popularity worldwide. This album included some of his biggest hits such as "Summer of '69" and "Run To You." Beyond his musical prowess, Bryan Adams is also known for his philanthropic endeavors. He founded the Bryan Adams Foundation in 2006, with a mission to improve the quality of people's lives around the world. The foundation focuses on education and learning opportunities for children and young people internationally. Adams has also been active in animal rights advocacy. Despite his fame and success, Adams remains a humble and dedicated artist, continually striving to create music that resonates with his fans across the globe.
- Albums: Reckless, Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron, 11, Bryan Adams, Room Service
- A titan of the music industry, Charles Hardin Holley, known professionally as Buddy Holly, was a pioneering American musician and songwriter. Born on September 7, 1936, in Lubbock, Texas, Holly developed a keen interest in music at a young age, influenced by country, western, and rhythm and blues genres. He began performing during his high school years, catching the attention of a Nashville scout, which led to his first contract with Decca Records. Holly's career, though short-lived due to his untimely death, was meteoric and impactful. He formed "The Crickets" in 1957, and the band quickly gained fame with hits like "That'll Be The Day" and "Peggy Sue." Holly was recognized for his distinctive fusion of country music and rhythm and blues, creating a sound that became a cornerstone of rock and roll. He was also known for his unique performing style, often wearing thick-rimmed glasses, which became a part of his signature look. Tragically, Holly's life and career were cut short when he died in a plane crash on February 3, 1959, a day famously referred to as "The Day the Music Died." Despite his early death at the age of 22, Buddy Holly's influence on music cannot be understated. He has been cited as a significant influence by numerous rock artists, including The Beatles, Bob Dylan, and Eric Clapton. Holly's groundbreaking contribution to the genre was recognized when he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986, affirming his lasting legacy in the world of music.
- Albums: Buddy, 20 Golden Greats, What You Been A-Missin': What You've Been A-Missin', The Buddy Holly Story, That'll Be The Day
- Bunny Lewis (12 November 1918 – 7 September 2001) also known professionally under various pseudonyms was a London-based manager, record producer and composer and music manager whose songwriting abilities were used in a number of films. Sometimes this coincided with involvement in films of musicians whom he personally managed, most notably the actor and singer, Craig Douglas. He also co-composed the song, "Cara Mia". Authorship was accredited to 'Tulio Trapani and Lee Lange'; Lee Lange was the pseudonym for David Whitfield's producer, Lewis, and Tulio Trapani was the nom de plume of the song's other co-writer and arranger, Mantovani.
- Camel are an English progressive rock band formed in 1971. Led by founding member Andrew Latimer, they have produced 14 original studio albums, 14 singles plus numerous other compilation and live albums.
- Albums: Mirage, Moonmadness, Music Inspired by The Snow Goose, Nude, Pressure Points: Live in Concert
Carl Belew
CountryCarl Robert Belew was an American country music singer and songwriter. Belew recorded for Decca, RCA Victor, and MCA in the 1950s through 1970s, charting 11 times on Hot Country Songs. He also wrote singles for Johnnie & Jack, Eddy Arnold, Jim Reeves, and others.- Albums: Am I That Easy to Forget / Such Is Life
- Carmen Mercedes McRae (April 8, 1920 – November 10, 1994) was an American jazz singer. She is considered one of the most influential jazz vocalists of the 20th century and is remembered for her behind-the-beat phrasing and ironic interpretation of lyrics. McRae was inspired by Billie Holiday, but she established her own voice. She recorded over sixty albums and performed worldwide.
- Albums: Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday at Newport, Boy Meets Girl, Carmen Sings Monk, Out of This World, Sings Lover Man and Other Billie Holiday Classics
Carola Standertskjöld
Traditional pop music, Jazz, Soul musicCarola Christina Standertskjöld-Liemola (23 March 1941 – 12 November 1997), professionally known as Carola, was a Finnish jazz and pop singer. Her style was partially inspired by American singers of the 1950s. Simultaneously, it was in the spirit of the modal jazz scene going down in Europe in the 1960s. Mostly, Carola's jazz repertoire consisted in idiosyncratic versions of American songs in English, while her most famous jazz track "The Flame" was an original composition by Esa Pethman and the lyrics by the singer herself. As the vocalist for Esa Pethman's quartet and Hazy Osterwald's sextet in the early 1960s, Carola made fame in Finland and Sweden, and toured Poland, Czechoslovakia, and Switzerland. Her most significant recording is a session with the Heikki Sarmanto Trio from 1966, which the Finnish Music Information Centre considers among the original blueprints of Finnish jazz. Carola's recordings have been credited for the accosting tone of her contralto voice and her phrasing. The singer also co-produced the groovy approach of her supporting orchestras. In late 1960s and early 1970s, she performed in nine languages and a wide variety of styles, including chanson, schlager, Latin, rock'n'roll, and soul. After her death of Alzheimer's disease in 1997, Carola's music was revived in 2004 with two Best of albums and Carola & Heikki Sarmanto Trio reaching the Finnish charts.- Albums: Parhaat: Tulkitsijan taival, 20 suosikkia: Ota tai jätä, 20 suosikkia: Rakkauden jälkeen, 20 suosikkia: Kielletyt leikit, Kielletyt leikit
- The Casa Loma Orchestra was a popular American dance band active from 1927 to 1963. From 1929 until the rapid multiplication in the number of swing bands from 1935 on, the Casa Loma Orchestra was one of the top North American dance bands. With the decline of the big band business following the end of World War II, it disbanded in 1947. However, from 1957 to 1963, it re-emerged as a recording session band in Hollywood, made up of top-flight studio musicians under the direction of it's most notable leader of the past, Glen Gray. The reconstituted band made a limited number appearances live and on television and recorded fifteen LP albums for Capitol Records before Gray died in 1963.
- Albums: Anytime's the Time to Fall in Love / Sweeping the Clouds Away, Lucky Me Lovable You / Happy Days Are Here Again, You've Got That Thing / Romance, Leave It That Way / Dust, Stein Song / When the Little Red Roses Get the Blues
- Cecilia Bartoli, Cavaliere OMRI (Italian: [tʃeˈtʃiːlja ˈbartoli]; born 4 June 1966) is an Italian coloratura mezzo-soprano opera singer and recitalist. She is best known for her interpretations of the music of Bellini, Mozart and Rossini, as well as for her performances of lesser-known Baroque and Classical music. She is known for having the versatility to sing soprano and mezzo roles.
- Albums: Great Opera Moments II, Mission, Dreams and Fables: Italian Arias, Manon Lescaut, Heroines
- Celtic Thunder is an Irish singing group and stage show known for its eclectic, theatrical style show. The group is backed by the Celtic Thunder Band on their concert tours, and their live shows are known for the use of dramatic set pieces (often invoking symbols of ancient Celtic mythology), visual effects, and highly choreographed staging. Since the original group's formation in 2007, Celtic Thunder has released twelve albums as well as ten live performances on DVD, three of which were split into two releases.
- Albums: Hard New York Days, Storm, Mythology, Heritage, The Light of Other Days
Charlie Kunz
JazzCharles Leonard Kunz (August 18, 1896 – March 16, 1958) was an American-born British musician popular during the British dance band era, and who became the wizard of the piano.- Albums: The Best Of, The Music Goes Round
- Charlie Watts, best known as the unassuming powerhouse behind the Rolling Stones, is widely regarded as one of rock and roll's greatest drummers. Born on June 2, 1941, in Kingsbury, London, his initial passion in life was art. He studied at Harrow School of Art before becoming a graphic designer. However, his love for jazz and rhythm and blues drew him into the world of music. In the early 1960s, Watts joined the Rolling Stones, a band that would go on to become one of the most influential rock bands in history. Unlike the usual stereotype of rock drummers, Watts brought a unique subtlety to his playing which became crucial to the sound of the Rolling Stones. His steady beat and solid rhythm provided the critical backbone for the group's music, underpinning the riffs of Keith Richards and the vocals of Mick Jagger. Beyond the Rolling Stones, Watts had a rich musical life. He led his own jazz big band, the Charlie Watts Orchestra, and other smaller ensembles that allowed him to explore his love for jazz. Despite his enormous success in the world of rock and roll, he always considered himself a jazz drummer.
- Albums: Jamming With Edward!, Charlie Watts Jim Keltner Project, Live at Fulham Town Hall
Chelsea
Rock music, Pop rockChelsea was an early 1970s band from New York City, best known for being the band of drummer Peter Criss before he joined Kiss. They released one album, the self-titled album Chelsea in 1971 and then collapsed during the recording of their unreleased second album. In August 1971, the band became Lips. By the spring of 1973, Lips was just the duo of Criss and Penridge and eventually disbanded completely. Their sound has been compared to the Moody Blues and Procol Harum.- Albums: Chelsea
- Christopher Frederick Andrews (born 15 October 1942) is an English-German singer-songwriter whose musical career started in the late 1950s.
- Albums: Yesterday Man, 20 Greatest Hits, Best Of ..., Yesterday Man - His Greatest Hits, Meine deutschen Hits
- Chris Knight (born June 24, 1960) is an American singer-songwriter from Slaughters, Kentucky. In addition to releasing solo records of his own material, Knight has had a successful career writing songs that have been recorded by Confederate Railroad, John Anderson, and Randy Travis among others.
- Albums: Heart of Stone, Chris Knight, Trailer II, The Jealous Kind, A Pretty Good Guy
- Claudio Abbado, Cavaliere di Gran Croce OMRI (Italian pronunciation: [ˈklaudjo abˈbaːdo]; 26 June 1933 – 20 January 2014) was an Italian conductor. One of the most celebrated and respected conductors of the 20th century, particularly in the music of Gustav Mahler, he served as music director of the La Scala opera house in Milan, principal conductor of the London Symphony Orchestra, principal guest conductor of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, music director of the Vienna State Opera, founder and director of Lucerne Festival Orchestra, music director of European Union Youth Orchestra and principal conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic orchestra.
- Albums: Bolero / Rapsodie espagnole / Ma mère l'oye / Pavane (London Symphony Orchestra feat. conductor: Claudio Abbado), 5 Symphonies / 7 Overtures, The Symphony Edition, Piano Concertos nos. 1 & 2 / Two Portraits, Symphonien no. 3 "Scottish" / no. 5 "Reformation"
- Clay Aiken, the American singer, television personality, and activist, has had a career marked by versatility and perseverance. Born on November 30, 1978, as Clayton Holmes Grissom in Raleigh, North Carolina, Aiken's early years were not without struggle. Despite his hardships, he found solace in singing at a young age, demonstrating an extraordinary talent that would eventually catapult him into international stardom. Aiken's rise to fame began when he appeared on the second season of American Idol in 2003. He quickly won over audiences with his rich, soulful voice and genuine demeanor, finishing in second place. This experience served as a springboard for his music career. His debut album, Measure of a Man, released later that year, topped the Billboard charts and went multi-platinum. Throughout his music career, Aiken has sold millions of albums, been nominated for a Grammy award, and held several successful tours, cementing his status as a prominent figure in the music world. Beyond music, Aiken is equally renowned for his efforts in advocacy and public service. Following his stint on American Idol, he co-founded the National Inclusion Project, an organization dedicated to promoting the inclusion of children with disabilities in activities alongside their non-disabled peers. He also served as a UNICEF ambassador, using his platform to raise awareness and funds for underprivileged children worldwide. In 2014, he ventured into politics, running for a congressional seat in North Carolina's second district. Although he did not win, his campaign highlighted his commitment to public service. With such a diverse portfolio of accomplishments, Clay Aiken continues to inspire through his music and his dedication to making the world a better place.
- Albums: Merry Christmas With Love, All Is Well, Measure of a Man, On My Way Here, A Thousand Different Ways
- Clemente Anselmo Arturo Cattini (born 28 August 1937) is an English rock and roll drummer, who was a member of the Tornados before becoming well known for his work as a session musician. He is one of the most prolific drummers in UK recording history, appearing on hundreds of recordings by artists as diverse as Cliff Richard and Lou Reed, and has featured on 42 different UK number one singles.
Cléoma Falcon
Cléoma Falcon (née Breaux) (May 27, 1906 – April 8, 1941) was an American guitarist and vocalist who, along with her husband Joe Falcon, recorded one of the first known examples of Cajun music. The recording, "Allons à Lafayette" was released in 1928, and opened the way for other commercial releases of Cajun music. Aside from being a ground-breaking recording artist, Cleoma Breaux also was one of the few women to perform live, despite the social standards of the era.- Sir Cliff Richard, born Harry Rodger Webb in Lucknow, British India, on October 14, 1940, is an iconic figure in the British music industry. With a career spanning over six decades, he has firmly established himself as one of the best-selling artists in the United Kingdom and around the world. Known prominently for his distinctive voice, charismatic stage presence, and versatility in genres ranging from pop, rock 'n' roll to contemporary Christian music, Richard's contributions have impacted diverse aspects of the music landscape. Richard's journey in the music field began in the late 1950s with his band, the Drifters (later renamed the Shadows). His debut single "Move It" released in 1958, was highly acclaimed and often hailed as Britain's first authentic rock 'n' roll song. This marked the beginning of Richard's long and illustrious career, which over the years, witnessed the release of numerous chart-topping singles and albums such as Living Doll, Summer Holiday, and We Don't Talk Anymore. By the 21st century, Richard had an impressive record of more than 250 million album sales worldwide. In addition to his success in music, Richard has also made significant achievements in film and television. He starred in several popular films during the 1960s, including The Young Ones and Summer Holiday, both of which further solidified his status as a pop culture icon. A committed philanthropist, Richard has been involved in various charitable endeavors throughout his career, using his fame to raise funds and awareness for numerous causes. His dedication to music, film, and humanitarian efforts led to his knighthood in 1995, making him the first rock star to be so honored. Sir Cliff Richard's enduring relevance and influence in the entertainment industry remain a testament to his talent, versatility, and determination.
- Albums: Cliff at Christmas, I Could Easily Fall (In Love With You), The Singles Collection, At the Movies: 1959-1974, Summer Holiday
- Clodagh Rodgers (born 5 March 1947) is a singer and actress from Northern Ireland, best known for her hit singles including "Come Back and Shake Me", "Goodnight Midnight", and "Jack in the Box".
- Albums: Save Me, You Are My Music, The Masters, You Are My Music... The Best Of
- Cock Sparrer is a punk rock band formed in 1972 in the East End of London, England. Although they have never enjoyed commercial success, they are considered one of the most influential streetpunk bands of all time, helping pave the way for the late-1970s punk scene and the Oi! subgenre. Their songs have been covered by many punk, Oi!, and hardcore bands. Their style was influenced by pub rock, glam rock and raw 1960s beat music as delivered by bands like the Small Faces and The Who. Their lyrics mostly dealt with topics related to the daily lives of working class people. Their name derives from their original name, Cock Sparrow, a Cockney term of familiarity.
- Albums: Two Monkeys, Shock Troops, Here We Stand, Guilty as Charged, True Grit
- Colin Edward Michael Blunstone (born 24 June 1945) is an English singer, songwriter and musician. In a career spanning more than 50 years, Blunstone came to prominence in the mid 1960s as the lead singer of the English rock band the Zombies, which released four singles that entered the Top 75 charts in the United States during the 1960s, including "She's Not There", "Tell Her No", "She's Coming Home", and "Time of the Season". Blunstone began his solo career in 1969, releasing three singles under a pseudonym of Neil MacArthur. Since then, he has released ten studio albums and one live album under his real name. His solo hits include "She's Not There", "Say You Don't Mind", "I Don't Believe in Miracles", "How Could We Dare to Be Wrong", "What Becomes of the Brokenhearted", and "The Tracks of My Tears". In 2019, Blunstone was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as part of The Zombies.He is also known for his participation on various albums with the Alan Parsons Project.
- Albums: One Year, Journey, Sings His Greatest Hits, Echo Bridge, Ennismore
- Connie Hall (born June 24, 1929) is an American country music singer who had brief success as a country music artist in the late 1950s and 1960s. She is also a songwriter.
- Harold Lloyd Jenkins (September 1, 1933 – June 5, 1993), better known by his stage name Conway Twitty, was an American country music singer. He also had success in the rock and roll, R&B, and pop genres. From 1971 to 1976, Twitty received a string of Country Music Association awards for duets with Loretta Lynn. He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Rockabilly Hall of Fame.
- Albums: Hello Darlin', Louisiana Woman, Mississippi Man, The Best of Conway & Loretta, 20 Greatest Hits
Cousin Joe
BluesPleasant Joseph known as Cousin Joe (December 20, 1907 — October 2, 1989) was an American blues and jazz singer, later famous for his 1940s recordings with clarinetist Sidney Bechet and saxophonist Mezz Mezzrow.- Albums: I'm Cousin Joe From New Orleans, I Never Harmed An Onion
Craig Douglas
Pop music, Rock music, Rock and rollCraig Douglas (born Terence Perkins, 12 August 1941) is an English pop singer, who was popular in the late 1950s and early 1960s. His sole UK chart-topper, "Only Sixteen" (1959), sold more copies in the UK than Sam Cooke's original version.- Albums: Best of the EMI Years
Craig Leon
Popular music, Modern music, Folk musicCraig Leon (born 7 January 1952) is an American-born record producer, composer and arranger currently living in England. Leon was instrumental in launching the careers of many recording artists including The Ramones, Suicide, Talking Heads and Blondie. Active in pop music production from 1974–1998, Leon has focused on classical composition, orchestration, arrangement and recording from 1998 to the present. His work appears on many classical recordings with artists including Luciano Pavarotti, Andreas Scholl, Sir James Galway, Joshua Bell, The London Chamber Orchestra, Dresden Staatskapelle Orchestra, Sinfonietta Cracovia, The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and The London Symphony Orchestra.- Albums: Nommos, Early Electronic Works -- Nommos Visiting
Crispian St. Peters
Pop musicCrispian St. Peters was an English pop singer-songwriter, best known for his work in the 1960s, particularly his 1966 hits, "The Pied Piper" and "You Were on My Mind."- Albums: The Pied Piper, Follow Me, The Anthology
- Crystal Gayle (born Brenda Gail Webb; January 9, 1951) is an American country music artist. Gayle began her career in the 1960s performing in the background of her sibling's bands, most notably Loretta Lynn. It was Lynn who helped her sister sign a recording contract with Decca Records in 1970 where she enjoyed minor success. Encouraged by Lynn to develop her own musical identity, Gayle signed a new recording contract with United Artists Records in 1974. A collaboration with producer Allen Reynolds brought forth major success by shifting her music towards a country pop style. In 1975, "Wrong Road Again" became Gayle's first major hit. However, it was in 1977 when Gayle achieved her biggest success with the single "Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue". The song topped the Billboard country chart, crossed over to the top five of the Billboard Hot 100, and became a major international hit. Gayle continued having major country pop success from the late 1970s and through late 1980s. Her biggest hits included "Ready for the Times to Get Better" (1977), "Talking in Your Sleep" (1978), "Half the Way" (1979), "You and I" (1982), and "The Sound of Goodbye" (1984). In 1982, Gayle collaborated with Tom Waits on the soundtrack for Francis Ford Coppola's film One from the Heart. In the mid 1980s she and Gary Morris recorded the theme song for Another World and would appear in several of the show's episodes. Throughout the 1990s Gayle shifted artistic directions by recording various genres of music. This included an album of inspirational music entitled Someday (1995) and an album of standards called Crystal Gayle Sings the Heart and Soul of Hoagy Carmichael (1999). During the decade she also owned and operated a fine arts shop called "Crystal's Fine Gifts and Jewelry". Her last studio album appeared in 2003 and Gayle has since continued to tour throughout the world. Gayle has won one Grammy Award and has been nominated for several others since the 1970s. She has also won five Academy of Country Music awards; those awards include receiving the Cliffie Stone Pioneer Award in 2016. In addition, she has won two Country Music Association awards and three American Music Awards. Rolling Stone ranked her among the 100 greatest country artists of all time and CMT ranked her within their list of the 40 greatest women of country music. Gayle has her own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and was inducted as a member of the Grand Ole Opry in 2017.
- Albums: One From the Heart, A Crystal Christmas, Cage the Songbird / Nobody Wants to Be Alone, Ain't Gonna Worry, Hollywood
- Dana Gillespie (born Richenda Antoinette de Winterstein Gillespie, 30 March 1949) is an English actress, singer and songwriter. Originally performing and recording in her teens, over the years Gillespie has been involved in the recording of over 45 albums, and appeared in stage productions, such as Jesus Christ Superstar, and several films. Her musical output has progressed from teen pop and folk in the early part of her career, to rock in the 1970s and, more latterly, the blues.
- Albums: Blues It Up, Hot Stuff, Foolish Seasons, The Best of the Mainman Years, Staying Power
- Dana Rosemary Scallon (born Rosemary Brown on 30 August 1951), known professionally as Dana, is an Irish singer and former politician who served as Member of the European Parliament from 1999 to 2004. While still a schoolgirl she won the 1970 Eurovision Song Contest with "All Kinds of Everything". It became a worldwide million-seller and launched her music career. She entered politics in 1997, as Dana Rosemary Scallon, running unsuccessfully in the Irish presidential election, but later being elected as an MEP for Connacht–Ulster in 1999. Scallon was again an independent candidate in the Irish 2011 presidential election, but was eliminated on the first count.
- Albums: Humble Myself
- Danielle Jane Harmer (born 8 February 1989) is an English actress, television personality and former singer. She is best known for her portrayal as Tracy Beaker in the CBBC programmes The Story of Tracy Beaker, Tracy Beaker Returns and Tracy Beaker Survival Files from 2002 to 2012. She also appeared in the BBC sitcom, After You've Gone. In 2018, Harmer reprised her role as Tracy Beaker in the Dumping Ground - the third spinoff series of The Story of Tracy Beaker, which has been airing since 2013. Harmer starred in her own sitcom, Dani's House from 2008 to 2012 and in its spin-off series Dani's Castle from 2013 to 2014. Harmer has occasionally presented continuity clips on the CBBC Channel. She became a presenter on Friday Download in the first series, where she guest presented the 'Style Download' segment. In 2008, Harmer branched into the music business and signed a £3m record deal. She recorded her debut album Superheroes in September 2009, and released the single and theme from Dani's House, "Free", but the album was never released and it was later confirmed she had abandoned her music career. In March 2012, she appeared in Let's Dance for Sport Relief, alongside Outnumbered star, Tyger Drew-Honey. They both reached the final, and became joint runners-up. Harmer competed in the tenth series of the BBC ballroom dancing show, Strictly Come Dancing, in that year. She was paired up with Vincent Simone and the couple reached the grand final, finishing in fourth place.
- Albums: Superheroes
Danni Leigh
CountryDanni Leigh (born February 9, 1970 in Strasburg, Virginia, U.S.) is an American country music singer. At age 19, she relocated to Orlando, Florida, intending to audition as a singer at Disney World but ended up moving to Nashville in 1994.She was signed with Audium Records, after changing labels several times, following Decca's closure and release by Sony's Monument label. Although she has limited success in the US, she's had more success in Europe due to the varied methods in which consumers learn about new music. Over time she has also developed a following in Korea, Brazil and Japan. In 1999, she was nominated for the Rising Star Trophy, a British Country Music Award. In 2001 she released A Shot of Whiskey and a Prayer.She has also performed a number of small gigs in the Austin, Texas area, where she moved in 2002.On June 25, 2019, The New York Times Magazine listed Danni Leigh among hundreds of artists whose material was reportedly destroyed in the 2008 Universal fire.- Albums: 29 Nights, A Shot of Whiskey & a Prayer, Divide & Conquer
Dave Adams
Pop musicDavid Adams may refer to:Dave Berry
Dave Berry (born David Holgate Grundy, 6 February 1941 in Woodhouse, Sheffield) is an English pop singer and former teen idol of the 1960s. He performed a mixture of R&B and pop ballads and was popular in Britain, and in Continental Europe, especially Belgium and the Netherlands, but had no commercial success in the US, where he is best known for the original versions of Ray Davies' "This Strange Effect" and Graham Gouldman's "I'm Going To Take You There". He had an unusual ambition for a pop performer trying to make a name for himself - to appear on television completely hidden by a prop. In his own words, to "not appear, to stay behind something and not come out". He often hid behind the upturned collar of his leather jacket, or wrapped himself around, and effectively behind, the microphone lead.- Albums: Greatest Hits, Best of Dave Berry, I'm Gonna Take You There, This Strange Effect / Now, Stick By The Book
- Dave Formula (born David Tomlinson 11 August 1946, Whalley Range, Manchester, England), is an English keyboardist and film-soundtrack composer from Manchester, who played with the post-punk bands Magazine and Visage during the end of the 1970s and the beginning of the 1980s and in the "world music" band The Angel Brothers.
- Albums: Satellite Sweetheart
Dave Lambert
Rock music, Progressive rockDave Lambert (born 8 March 1949) is an English singer-songwriter and musician, who has been a member of the Strawbs at various stages of the band's career, beginning in the 1970s.- David Stout "Dave" Stogner (1920–1989) was one of the premier Western swing musicians playing on the West Coast. Known as the "West Coast King of Western Swing", Stogner moved to California to pursue a musical career with the encouragement from fellow Texan, Milton Brown.Although famous for his long-time big band, The Western Rhythmaires, his first band was called The Arkansawyers. Dave Stogner and The Western Rhythmairs hosted a show at the Big Fresno Barn Dance for more than ten years in the 1950s. Stogner recorded for Four Star Records, Decca and Mosrite Records. He co-wrote the song Black Cat Stomp with Joe Holley. Stogner and his band appeared on television and radio shows throughout the San Joaquin Valley including a show on Channel 17 in Bakersfield in the early 1960s.[1] At least one author described Stogner's sound as "hard driving hillbilly".Throughout his long career, in addition to his many hit recordings, Stogner wrote, and co-wrote, several songs including "Hard Top Race" in 1953. Stogner was elected to the Western Swing Hall of Fame in Sacramento in 1988.
- David Christian Bongartz (born 4 September 1980), better known by his stage name David Garrett, is a German pop and crossover violinist and recording artist.
- Albums: Virtuoso, Rock Symphonies, 14, Legacy, Encore
- Red River Dave McEnery (born David Largus McEnery) (December 15, 1914 – January 15, 2002) was an American artist, musician, and writer of topical songs. He was born in San Antonio, Texas. He got the nickname "Red River Dave" because he enjoyed singing "Red River Valley" in high school. He was the leader of The Swift Cowboys.
- David "Davy" O'List (born 13 December 1950) is an English rock guitarist, vocalist and trumpeter. He has played with The Attack, The Nice, Roxy Music (before being replaced by Phil Manzanera), and Jet (replaced by Ian Macleod). He also briefly deputised in Jethro Tull and Pink Floyd.
David Whitfield
David Whitfield (2 February 1925 – 15 January 1980) was a popular British male tenor vocalist from Hull. He became the first British Artist to have a UK No.1 single in his home country and in the United States at the time with "Cara Mia". He died from a brain haemorrhage in Sydney, Australia, while on tour at the age of 54.- Albums: The Very Best of, David Whitfield's Greatest Hits, I'll Never Stop Loving You / Ev'rywhere
- David Michael Gordon "Davey" Graham (originally spelled Davy Graham) (26 November 1940 – 15 December 2008) was a British guitarist and one of the most influential figures in the 1960s British folk revival. He inspired many famous practitioners of the fingerstyle acoustic guitar such as Bert Jansch, Wizz Jones, John Renbourn, Martin Carthy, John Martyn, Paul Simon and Jimmy Page, who based his solo "White Summer" on Graham's "She Moved Through the Fair". Graham is probably best known for his acoustic instrumental, "Anji" and for popularizing DADGAD tuning, later widely adopted by acoustic guitarists.
- Albums: The Guitar Player, Folk, Blues & Beyond, Hat, Midnight Man
- Dawn Sears (December 7, 1961 – December 11, 2014) was an American country music artist. In addition to her work as a backing vocalist in Vince Gill's band, she recorded four solo studio albums, of which two were released on major labels. She had one single that charted on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts. (Ten days before Dawn died she organized and attended the event she had worked on. Dawn Sears and Friends raised $130,000 only ten days before she died. Proceeds went to benefit Vanderbilt Ingram Cancer Center.)
- Albums: Nothin' but Good, Dawn Sears, What A Woman Wants To Hear
- Deborah Cox (born July 13, 1974) is a Canadian singer, songwriter, actress, and record producer. Born and raised in Toronto, Cox began performing on television commercials at age 12, and entered various talent shows in her teenage years before becoming a professional backing vocalist for Celine Dion. In 1994, she relocated to the United States and was signed to Arista Records by Clive Davis, releasing her self-titled debut album the following year. Her second studio album One Wish (1998) was certified platinum in the United States and was marked by the commercial success of the pop crossover single "Nobody's Supposed to Be Here", which would become Cox's most successful entry on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, peaking at number two and remaining there for eight consecutive weeks. Cox signed with J Records for her third studio album The Morning After (2002), which saw moderate commercial success. Cox ventured into acting in the 2000s, making her film debut in the Canadian drama film Love Come Down (2000) and her stage debut in 2004, in the title role in the Broadway musical Aida. She has since appeared in smaller films and several musical productions, including the horror-drama Jekyll & Hyde, the biographical musical Josephine and the musical adaptation of The Bodyguard. Cox's most recent studio albums, Destination Moon (2007) and The Promise (2008), have been released through her own independent record label, Deco Recording Group. In 2017, her single "Let the World Be Ours Tonight" became her 13th number-one hit on Billboard's Dance Club Songs over the span of three consecutive decades. In 2016, Billboard listed Cox at 23rd on its list of the Greatest of All Time Top Dance Club Artists. An eight-time Juno Award nominee, she has won four awards and is often cited as Canada's top R&B artist.
- Albums: The Morning After, Deborah Cox, One Wish, Destination Moon, The Promise
Dee Shipman
Dee Shipman is a songwriter who has worked with Charles Aznavour and Petula Clark, with whom she wrote the 1990 West End musical Someone Like You.- Franklin Delano Reeves (July 14, 1932 – January 1, 2007), better known as Del Reeves, was an American country music singer, best known for his "girl-watching" novelty songs of the 1960s including "Girl on the Billboard" and "The Belles of Southern Bell". He is also known for his 1968 trucker's anthem, "Looking at the World Through a Windshield", which demonstrated he was capable of more than just novelty songs. He became one of the most successful male country singers of the 1960s.
- Albums: The Wonderful World of Del Reeves, His Greatest Hits, Santa's Boy, Girl on the Billboard, Girl on the Billboard / Eyes Don't Come Crying to Me
- Delta Spirit is an American rock band from California. The group consists of Jonathan Jameson (bass), Brandon Young (drums), Matthew Vasquez (vocals and guitars), Kelly Winrich (multi-instrumentalist), and William McLaren (guitar). The band released their fourth album, Into the Wide, on 9 September 2014.
- Albums: History from Below, Ode to Sunshine, I Think I've Found It!, Daytrotter Session, Delta Spirit
Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie
Classical musicThe Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen is a chamber orchestra based in Bremen, with place of residence in the historical building Stadtwaage.- Albums: Symphonies 3 & 4, Symphony No. 6 "Pastorale" / Symphony No. 2, Symphony No. 5 / Symphony No. 1, The 5 Violin Concertos (Wiener Philharmoniker feat. conductor: James Levine, violin: Itzhak Perlman)
Dick Thomas
CountryRichard Thomas Goldhahn (September 4, 1915 – November 22, 2003), known professionally as Dick Thomas, was an American singing cowboy, songwriter, musician and actor. He was best known for his 1945 single "Sioux City Sue," a Number One country hit and No. 16 pop hit that year which later became a country music standard and was included in a Gene Autry movie. Thomas was married to the former Maria McGarrigan from 1935 to her death in 1989. They had four sons and two daughters.Dickie Valentine
Pop music, Rock music, Rock and rollDickie Valentine (4 November 1929 – 6 May 1971) was an English pop singer in the 1950s. In addition to several other Top Ten hit singles, Valentine had two chart-toppers on the UK Singles Chart with "Finger of Suspicion" (1954) and the seasonal "Christmas Alphabet" (1955).- Albums: Greatest Hits, The Very Best of Dickie Valentine
Dinnington Colliery Band
Brass BandThe Dinnington Colliery Band is a traditional British brass band from Yorkshire, England, founded in 1904 and also known as the Dinnington Main and Middleton prize brass band for some of its history. Between 1982 and 1985 the band was sponsored by South Yorkshire Caravans, and 1987-1990 by Webster Mining Machinery. The Dinnington Colliery Band consisted of 35 members aged between 7 and 80 from the former coal mining town of Dinnington in South Yorkshire, England. As in many traditional British mining towns, once the colliery closed in 1992 the band went into decline, ending up with only six members by 2009. In 2010, the BBC chose Dinnington from a shortlist of 22 other brass bands to feature in a three-part series A Band For Britain presented and conducted by Sue Perkins. The recruitment drive that followed enabled the band to enlist 21 new members, and a resulting recording contract worth £1 million secured the band's future survival. As of 2014, the band are actively fundraising to represent Yorkshire in the National Finals in Cheltenham in September.- Albums: A Band for Britain
- Dolly Parton, born on January 19, 1946, in a one-room cabin in the Great Smoky Mountains of Tennessee, is an iconic figure in the world of music. The fourth of twelve children, her family was impoverished, but rich in music and love. Her talent for singing and songwriting emerged at a very young age. By the age of 10, she was performing on local television and radio shows in Knoxville, Tennessee. At 13, she made her debut at the Grand Ole Opry, where country music star Johnny Cash encouraged her to follow her dreams. Parton's career took off when she paired with Porter Wagoner on his popular television show in the late 1960s. Their duets became immensely popular, leading to a successful musical partnership that lasted for seven years. In 1974, Parton decided to pursue a solo career. Her decision was met with great success as she produced numerous hits such as "Jolene" and "I Will Always Love You," the latter being later covered by Whitney Houston, becoming one of the best-selling singles of all time. Beyond her musical accomplishments, Parton has made significant contributions to literacy through her non-profit organization, the Imagination Library. Founded in 1995, the program mails free books to children around the world to foster a love of reading. Never one to shy away from acting, Parton has also starred in several successful films including 9 to 5 and Steel Magnolias. Despite her fame and success, Parton remains grounded, always cherishing her humble beginnings, which continue to inspire her music and philanthropy.
- Albums: Once Upon a Christmas, The Ultimate Collection, The Grass Is Blue, Home for Christmas, The Right Combination: Burning the Midnight Oil
- Domenico Modugno (Italian pronunciation: [doˈmeːniko moˈduɲɲo]; 9 January 1928 – 6 August 1994) was an Italian singer, songwriter, actor, guitarist, and later in life, a member of the Italian Parliament. He is known for his 1958 international hit song "Nel blu dipinto di blu", for which he received Grammy Awards for Record and Song of the Year. He is considered the first Italian cantautore.
- Albums: Domenico Modugno, La storia (disc 2), Una carriera nella leggenda, I grandi successi di Domenico Modugno, Le più belle canzoni
Don Charles
Pop musicDon Charles (10 December 1933 – 4 December 2005) was a popular English ballad singer, and record producer, and later in his life, a writer of a self-help book. He is best known for his recordings of "Walk With Me My Angel" and "Bring Your Love to Me". He also produced several of The Tornados' tracks including "Space Walk" and "Goodbye Joe". The latter title referred his original mentor and producer, Joe Meek. Meek regarded Charles highly. "You are my only legit artist", Meek once informed Charles. "All the others are yugga-dugs". Standing at 6 feet 4 inches (1.93 m), and weighing around seventeen stone (108 kilograms, 238 pounds), Charles stood out in more ways than one from his fellow performers.Don Cherry
Traditional pop music, Big bandDonald Ross Cherry (January 11, 1924 – April 4, 2018) was an American traditional pop music and big band singer and golfer. In music, he is best known for his 1955 hit "Band of Gold".- Albums: The Best of the Columbia & Monument Sides, The Eyes of Texas, Take a Message to Mary, There Goes My Everything
Donna Hightower
Rhythm and blues, Jazz, Soul musicDonna Lubertha Hightower was an American R&B, soul and jazz singer and songwriter, who recorded and released albums for the Decca and Capitol labels. Later in her career she was based in Europe, where she had a hit in 1972 with "This World Today is a Mess."- Albums: The Very Best Of, Take One!
- Ed Ames (born Edmund Dantes Urick; July 9, 1927 – May 21, 2023), who also recorded as Eddie Ames, was an American pop singer and actor. He is known for playing Mingo in the television series Daniel Boone, and for his pop number #1 hits of the mid-to-late 1960s including "My Cup Runneth Over", "Time, Time", and "When the Snow Is on the Roses". He was also part of the popular 1950s singing group with his siblings, the Ames Brothers.
- Albums: Who Will Answer? / My Cup Runneth Over, Christmas With Ed Ames/Christmas Is the Warmest Time of the Year, Who Will Answer?, My Cup Runneth Over, Time
Eddie Lund
Eddie Lund (October 12, 1909 – December 4, 1973) was a pianist and bandleader. He grew up in Vancouver, Washington, USA, and later moved to Oregon where he worked as a pianist. He later moved to Tahiti in either 1936 or 1938 where he stayed permanently and published and released many records. He was the leader of a popular band, Eddie Lund and His Tahitians which released records on the ABC-Paramount and Tahiti labels. He picked up the Tahitian language quickly and secured a residence at Quinns night club in Papeete. Much of Tahiti's music has been written by him. Lund has been referred to as the Irving Berlin of Island music and the father of modern Tahitian folk music. He died in 1973.
